$13,312

96

THE QUESTION

"There are plays on almost every subject: Poverty, identity, and loss... but nothing on climate change... why? It's almost an existential crisis. But Why no drama?"

What I said that day was facts aren't story, that charts and data don't have a soul.

But that wasn't the first thought in my mind.

My first thought was "because it's too late. We're already dead."

"And The Walls Came Tumblin' Down..."

GOALS

The Essentials - 12,000

Cast

Essential Set and Properties

Essential Costume and Makeup

Off-Off-Broadway House

Rehearsal Space

Insurance

Graphic Design

Printing

The Optimal - 17,000

Professional Film Crew

Additional Marketing

Enhanced Set and Properties

Enhanced Costume and Makeup

The Ideal - 22,000

An Off-Broadway House (or a smaller house in central Manhattan) will allow us-

Further recognition

Greater accommodation

Increased visibility

And establish credibility

PREMISE

The Promised Land is fundamentally a cautionary tale. Taking place after Climate Change has torn society apart, a family tries to make the best of the situation. Abraham, the patriarch works with his beloved wife and partner Ester, to run the fields and secretly find the path to a better tomorrow. Their daughter Rebecca, who knows no other world, uses her brilliant mind to form an illegal organization and have a little fun. This brutal but stable environment is plunged into danger when Elliot, a handsome young man posing as a traveling salesman, arrives with tempting promises. A battle between four different world views collide as the question arises, what's the point? Have we (like their parents) gone too far.

WHY NOW?

The reason why Dunvegan-Productions is launching The Promised Land is because the subject matter cannot wait. Like the nuclear age Climate Change is, to quote my professor, an existential crisis. We may within our generation undo millennia of civilization. The fact that we are accomplishing this destruction slowly and deliberately is shocking. This must be fought on every level: educational, political, and yes in the arts.

The arts can reach people in ways documentary cannot. Lecture may get the blood boiling or cause people to tense. But if we tell (to quote a tea-pot wiser than I) a "tale as old as time" we might be able to get past the barriers. To convey the humanity of the issue.

The Promised Land despite the heavy subject matter is a fast paced, suspenseful, and occasionally funny play in the tradition of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid or Justified. Abraham is as comfortable sitting back with his guitar cracking jokes as he is on quick draw. Ester may give out a dress or torture someone within a moment. And Rebecca and Elliot are young, in love, and unpredictable.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

What we need from you, the theatre and planet loving public is the financial backing in order to make this production a reality. On our end we have put together a stellar team of theatre professionals, marketing consultants, and performers to make a fantastic night on the stage. The funding you provide will be used to book a location, arrange rehearsal space, provide our designers the resources they need, and funds to make sure our actors are fairly compensated. We have broken down our finances into several reach goals. 12,000 dollars will be able to launch this play in one of several lovely off off Broadway houses. 17,000 will hire a professional film crew to record our work, and allow for some additional marketing funding. And if you help us reach 22,000 dollars Dunvegan-Productions will be able to afford an Off-Broadway house.

THE TEAM

Lane McLeod Jackson is a writer-director from the Midwest, South Jersey, and occasionally Ireland. After receiving his Masters in Galway he returned to South Jersey where he became a director, writer, teacher, and pirate. He is now bringing his years of experience to the New York area.

A former pirate, chef, and captain he is now currently a software engineer and life long entrepreneur. Nicholas Spinosa is part of the engineering team at Wade and Wendy who teach A.I. to talk. He is also a passionate supporter of environmental issues and hopes The Promised Land can make a difference.

The author of eight published works. In addition to being an award winning writer she has raised her voice in choirs, sailed the seas as a pirate, and haunted alleys as a Philadelphia ghost tour guide. She is in her final year at Seton Hill receiving her MFA in popular fiction.

Pete Adams is a marketing and media production strategist. While a newcomer to New York, Pete hit the ground running taking as many freelance jobs as possible. He has a vice documentary slated to come out in early 2018

An actor, artist, and musician. Ashley Robyn is a force to be reckoned with. A recent graduate of Marymount Manhattan College who trained at Oxford in the BADA Shakespeare intensive. She brings her talent to The Promised Land.

Christopher C. Gibbs: A teacher, mystery novelist, and long time performer. Christopher C. Gibbs brings an intensity to the stage and the part of Abraham.

And of course we have you. We are a theatre company. Nothing we do matters if we are not part of a community. We are charged by your energy, we work for your applause, and we want to make a difference in your lives. So even if all you did was read this... thank you.

Risks and challenges

Fortunately every member of the Dunvegan-Production team has worked extensively in theatre. We have a realistic sense of what can be accomplished for how much in what time frame. We want this to be an experience everyone (particularly our backers) can be a part of so several of our rewards are tied to the show directly. Not just tickets but also the DVD recording, the items from the show, the programs, pictures of cast and crew and the "scrap-book."
When the show is mounted will be directly tied to how much money we raise. Our minimum of 12,000 will allow us to present by late spring in an off-off broadway house. If we receive the full 22,000 more opportunities will be made available.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $31 or more
About $31

Weary Travler

A personalized thank you video. He will read to you any poem of your choice in his most dramatic voice. Access to registration week, allowing you the opportunity to buy your ticket and reserve a seat an entire week before the public.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $61 or more
About $61

New Arrival

One free ticket. Access to registration week, allowing you the opportunity to reserve a seat an entire week before the public. One signed Playbill from the cast and crew! If you cannot see the show and wish to forgo the ticket we will send you an original illustration.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $181 or more
About $181

Scarecrow

Your name will be proclaimed with gratitude during the house managers speech. A working copy of the script will be sent to your door. If you are able to attend we will take a signed meet/greet photo with the cast and crew. If not we will send it to your own home!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $240 or more
About $240

Hidden Enforcer

Your name with a thank you is put into the Program. You will receive a condolence video explaining how you passed away during the environmental disaster from Abraham. You are also automatically placed into a limited pool of our internet auction where you can bid on props, set and costume pieces from the show.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

Ester's Eyes

“Scrap-book” A detailed leather-bound photo and hand-drawn guide that shows how the production went from concept to execution. Will include original pages from earlier drafts next to the finished product, a few rehearsal logs (especially when something funny happens), various notes from the actors and designers, finalizing in the professional photos taken during the show nights.
Includes a DVD of the final production.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

Abraham's Ledger

“A Script-Program” A program that includes not only the director’s notes, actors, and their name but also a complete professional quality copy of the script. Inscribed with a personal thank you from the director and cast with a few photos.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $301 or more
About $301

Luke's Right Hand

“Patrons Night” A limited engagement performance is put on for these benefactors. After the show a talkback (including an expert in the field, cast and crew) will be followed by a small get together.
Also includes a DVD of the final production.